LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU CEO Patrick Spyke has been named a 2021 Most Valuable Professional (MVP) by Corp! Magazine.

The statewide business publication’s MVP award program recognizes individuals who are making Michigan a better place to live and work by creating job opportunities, driving economic growth, nurturing community advancement or leading successful companies.

“Receiving this award is humbling, especially because I view success not based on my own awards, but by the awards of my team members,” Spyke said. “We have an amazing team at LAFCU.

“Throughout my 40-year-plus career I have been truly blessed to work in the credit union industry that’s driven by the philosophy of ‘people helping people.’ I’ve tried to be an advocate of doing what’s right, whether it’s for the community or for my team at LAFCU and its members.”

Spyke has worked for the Lansing-based credit union nearly 30 years and has led it as CEO since 2016. Founded in 1936, LAFCU now employs approximately 150 and serves more than 68,000 people and businesses throughout Michigan.

Corp! Magazine honored Spyke as an MVP at a virtual award presentation, and he will be featured in the magazine’s March/April ePublication.

Spyke’s winning nomination focused on his mentoring of coworkers, developing quality member services, leveraging technology for member benefit, and addressing community issues via legislative advocacy and working with local charities.

Specific to his leadership of LAFCU’s pandemic response, the nomination identified the credit union’s prioritization of protecting the health of employees and members; helping members survive financially, and supporting the community:

· Within days of the March 2020 Michigan “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order, more than 90% of LAFCU employees could work from the safety of their homes,

including tellers operating the Interactive Teller Machines located at all branch drive-thrus.

· A virtual wellness resource was added as an employee benefit to address stress caused by the rapidly changing environment — the resource provides free access to nutrition guidance, fitness challenges and stress management strategies.

· Members received more than $13 million in financial relief through waived fees, special loans, government and non-government-insured mortgage modifications, and government-guaranteed loans.

· Community support included financial donations to organizations distributing food to those in need (equating to 23,000 meals) and two charities supporting families and people with disabilities; lunches to front-line health care workers and families receiving help from the local Ronald McDonald House; and doubling scholarship dollars awarded to high school seniors participating in a LAFCU essay contest.

Spyke serves on the executive boards of two credit union service organizations, Member Driven Technologies and Member First Mortgage. He’s also a board member for Greater Lansing Food Bank and is helping to lead its capital campaign. He was named 2020 Credit Union Professional of the Year by the Michigan Credit Union League for his leadership and accomplishments in 2019 that bettered LAFCU and the statewide credit union movement.

About LAFCU Chartered in 1936, LAFCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative open for membership to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Michigan and to businesses and other entities located in Michigan. The credit union serves more than 68,000 members and holds over $848 million in assets. It was named a Best Credit Union to Work For in 2020. LAFCU offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services as well as an expanding complement of financial technology solutions. Members enjoy benefits such as low fees, low interest rates on loans, high yields on savings, discounts, knowledgeable employees and nationwide access to fee-free ATMs. A recipient of the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for credit unions, LAFCU enriches the communities it serves by supporting many organizations and causes. To learn more about LAFCU, call 800.748.0228 or visit www.lafcu.com.

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